20 minutes might be the case for some pre term infants (for whom you have to be particularly careful not to have in car seats too long). However for healthy full term infants, 20 minutes would be a bit on the conservative side.

To answer your question though, a healthy, full term baby should not be in a car seat for any length of time greater than 2 hours. If it's just a one off, then it's likely it wont matter as much, but on a regular basis, no more than 2 hours at a time if you can help it. Not only is there a risk of "flat head syndrome" (which can also occur with pro-longed use of things such as electric baby swings) but there is also risk of cutting off the airways from being too upright (amongst other problems).

I'd also recommend that you read these links:

http://www.mothering.com/articles/growing_child/child_health/car-seats.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6216892.stm

Hello

I am wondering how long a baby esp. new born can be left in a capsule

The reason I ask is that when we get home from being out we are reluctant to wake him to move him

I read somewhere that it is not ideal to have a baby in a capsule for more than 20 mins ?

Thoughts ?

I'm sorry I really wish there was something I could suggest, but without physically being there, it's pretty tough to ensure everything is A-OK and safe. I would suggest going to some stores and looking at your options for what might likely have to be a booster seat if your 4 year old is nearing 18kg. If you want to put them in a booster, obviously it is an option, but you will of course have to use that in conjunction with a three point belt. If you want to harness past 18kg, there are SOME options, albeit quite limited. If you do get a belt positioning booster seat, make sure it is one that positions the shoulder belt reasonably close to the body, between the shoulder and the neck (not rubbing against the neck) and one which makes sure the seat belt is positioned nice and low across the pelvis. Some suggestions might perhaps be the Graco Rallysport (Baby On The Move) or the Milano (Baby City). There are of course more options out there, but those are a couple that are quite good belt positioners but it will of course, depend on the child and the vehicle.

Hi Delgirrrl

Well, your options are certainly limited for sure. The Maxi Rider II has probably one of the highest slots for harnessed seats, on the market.

To be honest, past 20kg I'm not sure there is much I can suggest. All that really comes to mind, is turning him rear-facing in a seat such as the Brio Zento which does rear-face till 25kg, so that would give you about 5kg, but there's no knowing how long it will take him to gain that 5kg. The bonus for that would mean you don't have to particularly worry about where the slots are in relation to the shoulders. However, being that he is obviously quite tall, his eyes might be at or above the top back of the seat, it's doubtful really, but it's something worth checking out if it is within your budget.

As for the Maxi III AHR, I have no idea when it will "hit" NZ, or even if it will, that's something you would need to contact Britax Childcare Ltd about. In any case, the weight limit would still be 18kg for the inbuilt harness.

Hi, I have a very tall and heavy toddler, over the 18kg mark and not yet 2.5 years.  I've got restraints in two vehicles, and after reading the Britax Bulletin on heavy toddlers, I intend to keep him harnessed until he's 20kg.  He's in a Meridian AHR (and Maxi-Rider 2 in my work car). At 20kg I'll use a Protecta harness. 

His shoulders are a bit above the highest slot height in the Meridian, and about a cm lower than the highest in the Maxi II.

Obviously I'll need to replace the AHR shortly as he's too tall, but want the highest slot height for the replacement.  Can you advise, of the convertibles that you mention in your explanation around extended harnessing, which has the highest shoulder slots? 

Also, any word when/if the Maxi III AHR will hit NZ, and if it will have the same or more slot height than the Maxi II?

Thanks

Hi Bonnie

I live in Hamilton. I know its a tough one alright.

Thanks
Gilly

Hi again Louise

It's a bit hard for me to give recommendations as each "case" is rather "individual" and depends on your car, i.e. the shape of the seats and so forth, and it also depends on your budget, your needs, what's easy (or easy enough) for you to install, which one suits your childs age, weight, height etc. There is a whole lot of text on this page http://www.childrestraintsafety.com/car-seat-reviews.html that I suggest that you read through (skip the reviews though, as they're not all up yet, but the info on what you need to consider at the top is still good).

There's quite a few convertible boosters out there. I could go on naming them all day. There isn't any "one" seat I could recommend because as above, it has to meet all those requirements (good fit in the car, suits your child etc etc) because there isn't any point me "recommending" a car seat if it can't be installed properly in your car!

Some things you might want to consider however - how much does your child weigh, how tall are they, do you want a tethered convertible booster? If so, do you have approved anchor bolts in your car. Or, if you don't want tethered convertible boosters are your seat belts long enough for some un-tethered ones that require a decent amount of seatbelt length? Also, one of the biggest deciding factors does tend to be the budget, and fair enough too!

Knowing that information might help me to "prune" the list down so to speak..

Hi Gilly

In a "three across" situation it's really quite hard to give advice, reason being, that without physically being there and being able to check the installation of each individual seat and also how they fit in to your vehicle room-wise, it would be impossible for me to give you the right information. While three across positioning for car seats IS do-able, obviously it depends on the car, and the car seats. I've not installed the car seats that you have, in the car that you have, so it's a bit of a toughy on my end.

Where in New Zealand do you live?

Bonnie

Hi bonnie

Can you tell me what i can do for best i am wanting to be able to have 3 carseats in the back of my car. I have a 2003 ford falcon Xr6.  I have a 16mth old in a safe and sound meridian. A 4 yr old that is 17.4kgs and 104cm tall she is also in a safe and sound seat a guardian i think but am wanting to move her into a convertible booster but also i want to be able to have my neice in the car for trips here and there and was wanting to use my older daughters seat for her she is 2 yrs old and 15kg. Will i be able to get 3 seats across the back at all the front seat is out due to having passenger airbags. What do other people do it must be done i guess but i want it to be safe etc.
Hope you can advise.

Thanks Bonnie,

We might look at the convertible booster seat - any recommendations? 

Then that way this little squirt can go straight into the car seat and we don't have to worry about a capsule then upgrading later, that might make the wallet feel a little better about this all